NO strings attached

 Psalm 107:8-9

King James Version

8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, 

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, 

and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

No doubt about it.

Man longs for love.

Why else all the love songs?

All the poetry.

All the marriages.

All the relationships.

All the everyday attempts.

Whether in life, or in death.

Man has a deep longing.

Man longs for love.

A true kind of love.

The longing has been:

To be loved for self.

To be loved for all that you are.

To be loved unconditionally.

To be loved forever.

Does such a love exist?

Have you found it yet?

Have we found it among ourselves?

Perhaps, we look in the wrong places.

Through the many ways the world offers love.

And often, with a price.

That is not love.

This is love:

Jeremiah 31:3

King James Version

3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, 

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: 

therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Luke 6:27-28

King James Version

27 But I say unto you which hear, 

Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, 

and pray for them which despitefully use you.

John 3:16-17

King James Version

16 For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world 

to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him 

might be saved.

Romans 5:8-9

King James Version

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, 

in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, 

we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 8:35-39

King James Version

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, 

or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, 

For thy sake we are killed all the day long; 

we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 

through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, 

nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 

nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:9-10

King James Version

9 Let love be without dissimulation. 

Abhor that which is evil; 

cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another 

with brotherly love; 

in honour preferring one another;

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

King James Version

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men 

and of angels, and have not charity, 

I am become as sounding brass, 

or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, 

and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; 

and though I have all faith, 

so that I could remove mountains, 

and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 

and though I give my body to be burned, 

and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; 

charity envieth not; 

charity vaunteth not itself, 

is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, 

seeketh not her own, 

is not easily provoked, 

thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, 

but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, 

believeth all things, 

hopeth all things, 

endureth all things.

Ephesians 2:8-9

King James Version

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, 

lest any man should boast.

1 John 3:16

King James Version

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, 

because he laid down his life for us: 

and we ought to lay down our lives 

for the brethren.

1 John 4:8

King James Version

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; 

for God is love.

1 John 4:9

King James Version

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, 

because that God sent his only begotten Son 

into the world, that we might live through him.

1 John 4:10

King James Version

10 Herein is love, 

not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us, 

and sent his Son 

to be the propitiation 

for our sins.

1 John 4:16

King James Version

16 And we have known and believed 

the love that God hath to us. 

God is love; 

and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, 

and God in him.

1 John 4:18

King James Version

18 There is no fear in love; 

but perfect love casteth out fear: 

because fear hath torment. 

He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:19

King James Version

19 We love him, 

because he first loved us.

LOVE is a GIFT freely given.

You don't have to earn it.

You don't have to beg for it.

You don't have to demand it.

True love comes from a GOD-filled heart.

A gift given joyfully.

Given generously.

With no expectations.

No hidden agenda.

No strings attached, ever.

Exactly as JESUS taught us.

GOD is LOVE.

He sent His Son to teach us how to love.

That's why we need to write another article.

Showing us the really "hard" teachings.

But it's the only way to love.

As JESUS taught us.

The beauty of being born again is there is no more longing.

You know you are already loved by GOD.

Your only concern is to learn to love as JESUS loved.

Perfectly, precisely, purely.

And that will be for that other post.

Which we will share here, soon as we've written it.

Related material:

GOD's LOVE

GOD is STEADY

On LOVING GOD

GOD's GLORY blogs

BORN AGAIN classics

LOVING each other

 JESUS said:

John 15:12

King James Version

12 This is my commandment, 

That ye love one another, 

as I have loved you.

Do you long for love?

Have you found love?

What is true love?

Do you know what it is?

How did you come to know about it?

Who taught you?

Have you experienced true love?

Have you given true love?

How were you certain it was true love?

How do you want to be loved?

How did you want to have been loved?

Would you do something like this?

John 15:13

King James Version

13 Greater love hath no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The world defines love in so many ways.

In ways I won't be expounding here.

My focus is on what JESUS taught.

On what pleases GOD.

On what SPIRIT, and Scripture, revealed.

Such as these things.

Which the King James Version calls "charity".

And other Bible versions call "love":

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

King James Version

13 Though I speak 

with the tongues of men and of angels, 

and have not charity, I am become 

as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, 

and understand all mysteries, 

and all knowledge; 

and though I have all faith, 

so that I could remove mountains, 

and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 

and though I give my body to be burned, 

and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

King James Version

4 Charity suffereth long, 

and is kind; 

charity envieth not; 

charity vaunteth not itself, 

is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, 

seeketh not her own, 

is not easily provoked, 

thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, 

but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, 

believeth all things, 

hopeth all things, 

endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:13

King James Version

13 And now abideth 

faith, hope, charity, 

these three; 

but the greatest of these 

is charity.

How are we able to love this way?

Only by being born again.

And having the SPIRIT of GOD in us.

JESUS commanded we be born again:

John 3:5-8

King James Version

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, 

and thou hearest the sound thereof, 

but canst not tell whence it cometh, 

and whither it goeth: 

so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

We need to be born again, that we may be "born of the Spirit".

And when we are "born of the Spirit", we receive these gifts:

Galatians 5:22-23

King James Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 

gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: 

against such there is no law.

Because many are focused on romantic love, they miss one thing.

They miss the MOST IMPORTANT thing about love.

To love GOD first.

Through His Son, JESUS.

Giving your heart to JESUS doesn't mean you'll be a nun, or a priest.

Or that you'll never marry.

Giving your heart to the LORD means He will teach you 

HOW to love.

He will lead you to the right person.

The right friendship.

The right marriage.

The right work.

The right way to praise GOD.

Who greater teacher, than the LORD JESUS?

Think deeply upon these things.

And measure your love by it.

More articles here.

Related material:

FRUIT of the SPIRIT

LOVING one another

WHO to GIVE your HEART to

On LOVING GOD

BORN AGAIN articles

GOD loves ISRAEL

 Deuteronomy 7:1

King James Version

7 When the Lord thy God 

shall bring thee into the land 

whither thou goest to possess it, 

and hath cast out many nations before thee, 

the Hittites, and the Girgashites, 

and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, 

and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, 

and the Jebusites, 

seven nations greater 

and mightier than thou;

GOD loves Israel.

That is a fact.

The whole Bible tells us so.

Scripture tells us of GOD's faithfulness to her.

Despite her unfaithfulness to Him.

She may be tiny, but it didn't matter.

That's precisely why GOD chose her.

Deuteronomy 7:7

King James Version

7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, 

nor choose you, because ye were 

more in number than any people; 

for ye were the fewest of all people:

Through this tiny nation, GOD tests us.

Do we love, or bully?

Do we honor what GOD loves, or do we destroy what He loves?

Do we obey GOD's will, or do we defy the LORD's will?

Through Israel, GOD knows our hearts.

In the greatest clarity of all.

Israel is the APPLE  of GOD's eye.

Zechariah 2:8

King James Version

8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; 

After the glory hath he sent me 

unto the nations which spoiled you: 

for he that toucheth you 

toucheth the apple of his eye.

No matter what you do, you cannot destroy Israel.

GOD promised a "remnant".

Destroy Israel, at your own peril.

The future of her persecutors are set in stone.

As well as those who love her.

That is GOD's law:

Genesis 12:3

King James Version

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, 

and curse him that curseth thee: 

and in thee shall all families of the earth 

be blessed.

She is GOD's holy people:

Deuteronomy 7:6

King James Version

6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: 

the Lord thy God hath chosen thee 

to be a special people unto himself, 

above all people that are upon 

the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 14:2

King James Version

2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, 

and the Lord hath chosen thee 

to be a peculiar people unto himself, 

above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 26:19

King James Version

19 And to make thee high 

above all nations which he hath made, 

in praise, and in name, and in honour; 

and that thou mayest be an holy people 

unto the Lord thy God, 

as he hath spoken.

What are GOD's plans for Israel?

Why did He choose this tiny nation?

Scripture is clear about GOD's intentions:

Isaiah 43:21

King James Version

21 This people have I formed for myself; 

they shall shew forth my praise.

Further,

2 Samuel 7:23-24

King James Version

23 And what one nation in the earth 

is like thy people, even like Israel, 

whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, 

and to make him a name, 

and to do for you great things and terrible, 

for thy land, before thy people, 

which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, 

from the nations and their gods?

24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself 

thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: 

and thou, Lord, art become their God.

1 Peter 2:9

King James Version

9 But ye are a chosen generation, 

a royal priesthood, 

an holy nation, 

a peculiar people; 

that ye should shew forth the praises 

of him who hath called you out of darkness 

into his marvellous light;

When you're born again, all things become clear.

Your only desire is to obey the LORD's commands.

To know His will.

And to share the gospel.

You know your role in this world.

And surely, it is NOT to destroy Israel.

But to love what GOD loves.

Most of all, Israel.

If you do the opposite, then you belong to CHRIST's enemy.

You have made a stand of who you are, and what you are.

Not to mention who you really serve.

JESUS made this declaration:

John 8:44-45

King James Version

44 Ye are of your father the devil, 

and the lusts of your father ye will do. 

He was a murderer from the beginning, 

and abode not in the truth, 

because there is no truth in him. 

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: 

for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, 

ye believe me not.

GOD will always love Israel.

He has NEVER cast out Israel.

Despite her many iniquities against GOD.

Despite her being in "slumber".

She will wake up.

At a time appointed by GOD.

Her future is sure with the LORD.

Romans 11:25

King James Version

25 For I would not, brethren, 

that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, 

lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; 

that blindness in part is happened to Israel, 

until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

GOD is steady.

He doesn't change.

His WORD remains.

Find truth, and comfort, in this:

Isaiah 40:8

King James Version

8 The grass withereth, 

the flower fadeth: 

but the word of our God 

shall stand for ever.

More articles here.

Related material:

God's COVENANTS with Israel

GOD's PLAN of SALVATION

Honoring ISRAEL

WORD of GOD

BORN AGAIN articles

The SECOND commandment

 Mark 12:31

King James Version

31 And the second is like, namely this, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

There is none other commandment greater than these.

The first commandment was to LOVE GOD.

The second commandment is to love others "as thyself".

And to love others, as JESUS had loved us:

John 13:34

King James Version

34 A new commandment I give unto you, 

That ye love one another; as I have loved you, 

that ye also love one another.

It is easily understood when you're born again.

SPIRIT teaches you about GOD's will.

He teaches you about JESUS.

All is made clear, through Scripture.

Joyful obedience is a given.

If you love GOD, you will know how to love others.

1 John 4:7-8

King James Version

7 Beloved, let us love one another: 

for love is of God; 

and every one that loveth is born of God, 

and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; 

for God is love.

We are not to play favorites when we try to love others.

We are to follow the examples set by JESUS.

We are to look upon the "JESUS" in others.

That's a powerful perspective in learning to love.

JESUS explained this, through a parable:

Matthew 25:40-45

King James Version

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one 

of the least of these my brethren, 

ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 

Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, 

prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: 

I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: 

naked, and ye clothed me not: 

sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, 

Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, 

or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, 

or sick, or in prison, 

and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Inasmuch as ye did it not

 to one of the least of these, 

ye did it not to me.

The best teachings are on humility, and authenticity.

Matthew 5:23-24

King James Version

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, 

and there rememberest that thy brother 

hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, 

and go thy way; 

first be reconciled to thy brother, 

and then come and offer thy gift.

Mark 9:35

King James Version

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, 

and saith unto them, 

If any man desire to be first, 

the same shall be last of all, 

and servant of all.

Philippians 2:3-5

King James Version

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; 

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other 

better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, 

but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, 

which was also in Christ Jesus:

Early on, GOD also gave us His 10 Commandments.

A sure way of pleasing the LORD.

As well as a wonderful guidepost for living a godly life.

By living it through the Bible.

Only by being born again can we easily accept GOD's truth.

Only then can we also understand GOD's ways.

SPIRIT teaches us everything we need to know about GOD.

Nothing could be more delightful than knowing GOD's laws.

Start by being born again.

The next post tell us of an astounding love.

A never-ending love GOD has for His chosen people.

Click here to read about how GOD loves Israel.

Related material;

Bible Verses About Loving Others

BORN AGAIN articles

The FIRST commandment

 Mark 12:28-31

King James Version

28 And one of the scribes came, 

and having heard them reasoning together, 

and perceiving that he had answered them well, 

asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

That was the question presented by one of the scribes:

"Which is the first commandment of all?"

How did the LORD JESUS answer that?

Mark 12:29-30

King James Version

29 And Jesus answered him, 

The first of all the commandments is, 

Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God 

with all thy heart, 

and with all thy soul, 

and with all thy mind, 

and with all thy strength: 

this is the first commandment.

JESUS reinforced what GOD asked of His people, through Moses:

Exodus 20:1-7

King James Version

20 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, 

which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, 

out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 

or that is in the earth beneath, 

or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 

nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 

unto the third and fourth generation 

of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands 

of them that love me, 

and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take 

the name of the Lord thy God in vain; 

for the Lord will not hold him guiltless 

that taketh his name in vain.

LOVING GOD is truly the FIRST commandment.

It is a delight to do so, when you're born again.

It is not difficult, once your heart belongs to the LORD.

His delight becomes your delight.

Anything He loves, you love.

Obedience is key.

1 John 5:3

King James Version

3 For this is the love of God, 

that we keep his commandments: 

and his commandments are not grievous.

And the SECOND commandment?

That's for the next post.

Related material:

LOVING GOD

JESUS and Lazarus

 John 11:47

King James Version

47 Then gathered the chief priests 

and the Pharisees a council, and said, 

What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

How does JESUS love?

We saw it from another post.

This time, we shall go into specifics.

Wherein the Bible speaks of His love for His friends --

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

And here's the story 

John 11:1-3

King James Version

11 Now a certain man was sick, 

named Lazarus, of Bethany, 

the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 (It was that Mary 

which anointed the Lord with ointment, 

and wiped his feet with her hair, 

whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, 

Lord, behold, 

he whom thou lovest is sick.

John 11:4

King James Version

4 When Jesus heard that, he said, 

This sickness is not unto death, 

but for the glory of God, 

that the Son of God 

might be glorified thereby.

John 11:5-6

King James Version

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, 

and her sister, and Lazarus.

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, 

he abode two days still 

in the same place where he was.

John 11:7-8

King James Version

7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, 

Let us go into Judaea again.

8 His disciples say unto him, 

Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; 

and goest thou thither again?

John 11:9-11

King James Version

9 Jesus answered, 

Are there not twelve hours in the day? 

If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, 

because he seeth the light of this world.

10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, 

because there is no light in him.

11 These things said he: 

and after that he saith unto them, 

Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; 

but I go, 

that I may awake him 

out of sleep.

John 11:12-13

King James Version

12 Then said his disciples, 

Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: 

but they thought that he had spoken 

of taking of rest in sleep.

John 11:14-16

King James Version

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, 

Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, 

to the intent ye may believe; 

nevertheless let us go unto him.

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, 

unto his fellowdisciples, 

Let us also go, 

that we may die with him.

John 11:17-19

King James Version

17 Then when Jesus came, 

he found that he had lain in the grave 

four days already.

18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, 

about fifteen furlongs off:

19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, 

to comfort them concerning their brother.

John 11:20-22

King James Version

20 Then Martha, 

as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, 

went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, 

Lord, if thou hadst been here, 

my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, 

whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, 

God will give it thee.

John 11:23

King James Version

23 Jesus saith unto her, 

Thy brother shall rise again.

John 11:24-26

King James Version

24 Martha saith unto him, 

I know that he shall rise again 

in the resurrection 

at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, 

I am the resurrection, and the life: 

he that believeth in me, though he were dead, 

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me 

shall never die. 

Believest thou this?

John 11:27-29

King James Version

27 She saith unto him, 

Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, 

the Son of God, which should come into the world.

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, 

and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, 

The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29 As soon as she heard that, 

she arose quickly, and came unto him.

John 11:30-31

King James Version

30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, 

but was in that place where Martha met him.

31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, 

and comforted her, when they saw Mary, 

that she rose up hastily and went out, 

followed her, saying, 

She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

John 11:32

King James Version

32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, 

and saw him, she fell down at his feet, 

saying unto him, 

Lord, if thou hadst been here, 

my brother had not died.

John 11:33-34

King James Version

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, 

and the Jews also weeping which came with her, 

he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

34 And said, 

Where have ye laid him? 

They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

John 11:35

King James Version

35 Jesus wept.

John 11:36

King James Version

36 Then said the Jews, 

Behold how he loved him!

John 11:37-38

King James Version

37 And some of them said, 

Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, 

have caused that even this man should not have died?

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself 

cometh to the grave. 

It was a cave, 

and a stone lay upon it.

John 11:39-40

King James Version

39 Jesus said,

Take ye away the stone. 

Martha, the sister of him that was dead,

saith unto him, 

Lord, by this time he stinketh: 

for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, 

Said I not unto thee, 

that, if thou wouldest believe, 

thou shouldest see the glory of God?

John 11:41-43

King James Version

41 Then they took away the stone 

from the place where the dead was laid. 

And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, 

Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: 

but because of the people which stand by I said it, 

that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, 

he cried with a loud voice, 

Lazarus, come forth.

John 11:44

King James Version

44 And he that was dead came forth, 

bound hand and foot with graveclothes: 

and his face was bound about with a napkin. 

Jesus saith unto them, 

Loose him, and let him go.

John 11:45-46

King James Version

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, 

and had seen the things which Jesus did, 

believed on him.

46 But some of them went their ways 

to the Pharisees, and told them 

what things Jesus had done.

This miracle proved unnerving for the chief priests and Pharisees.

They were waiting for an occasion to pin down something on JESUS.

This proved to be that perfect occasion.

John 11:53-54

King James Version

53 Then from that day forth 

they took counsel together for to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly 

among the Jews; but went thence 

unto a country near to the wilderness, 

into a city called Ephraim, 

and there continued with his disciples.

One question remains.

Based on the verses above, was Lazarus "the disciple JESUS loved"?

Or was it apostle John?

Why does it matter?

As Berean, we always look for accuracy.

That we may not mislead others.

Now, it's time to know what JESUS taught.

Mainly about two commandments.

Let's go to the FIRST.

Related material:

On Micro and Macro Decisions

GOD's LOVE

JESUS